DPWH engineer caught asking money for an Ifugao road project

A district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in  the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was caught on camera allegedly asking for bribe or grease money from a contractor for a road project, according to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) on Tuesday.

In a news conference, PACC commissioner Greco Belgica presented the video showing Engineer Lorna Ricardo allegedly asking P10 million from a contractor to ensure that the latter would be awarded the P100-million Lagawe-Caba-Ponghal Road Development Project in Ifugao province.

Belgica said that aside from the P10 million, Ricardo also asked for one percent of the 10 percent mobilization fund to be released on June 25 to 29, 2018 as "SOP" (standard operating procedure) for DPWH - Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Ifugao District and five percent "SOP" on every progress billing.

Ricardo also demanded for P20,000 payment as processing fee for the issuance of Statement of Work Accomplished (SWA); one percent from the P100 million, the total contract cost for material testing; and another million pesos for the supposed vehicle rental to be used by DPWH project engineers.

Belgica said the talks between Ricardo and the contractor took place from January to July of this year.  He did not identify the contractor.

Belgica said he had invited Ricardo to attend the press briefing so that she could explain her side, but the DPWH engineer did not show up.

"Siya po ang district engineer ngayon, this was submitted to the Commission and this will be delivered to the Ombudsman and DPWH for administrative case," Belgica said.

"Nakita niyo po 'yung video, tatlong araw po tinrabaho 'yun... nangyari diyan nakikipag-haggle siya, bigay niyo muna tapos 'yung mga binanggit na kesyo itataas daw sa DBM, bibigyan daw si congressman, marami pa ho siya sinabing bibigyan diyan but the video is enough that she violated the law," he added.

In the video, it can be heard that Ricardo mentioned "Baguilat." Teodoro "Teddy" Baguilat Jr. is the representative of the Ifugao province.

Asked if Baguilat would be investigated, Belgica said: "He will be part of the investigation. Wala namang ebidensya for now, nabanggit lang 'yung name niya."

Meanwhile, Belgica said President Rodrigo Duterte was furious after seeing the video and ordered him to bring the case before the Office of the Ombudsman.

DPWH director for legal division Rodin Millado, meanwhile, vowed to investigate the incident.

"'Dapat i-submit sa amin 'yung complaint and i-substantiate pa. As far as I'm concerned si Secretary Villar he will not tolerate this. Siguro after due process, alam naman natin may due process..." Millado said.

Ricardo allegedly violated Section 7 of the Republic Act No. 6713 (Prohibited Acts and Transactions) and Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019 (Corrupt Practices of Public Offices). — LDF, GMA News